Hightlights
Architecture • Shopping • Nightlife
Best time to visit
September to June Jazzablanca music festival in April
In the ever-evolving Casablanca, visitors meander through the narrative of Modernity. Emerging from an ambitious design established in the early 20th century. Casablanca (known locally as Dar Beida) swiftly became Morocco’s economic hub. The bustling port attracted industries, entrepreneurs, and France’s most visionary architects. A walk through its avenues offers delightful discoveries for keen observers. It resembles an open-air gallery showcasing a diverse array of avant-grade urban styles, woven together into a distinctive tapestry.
Beginning your journey at the Parc de la Ligue Arabe transports you to 1917, the year construction commenced on this iconic site of the new urban blueprint. Nearby are two pivotal venues in Casablanca’s flourishing art scene and Art Deco gems: the Villa des Arts, a contemporary art institution, and the Musee de Fondation Abderrahman Slaoui, featuring an exquisite collection of Moroccan handcrafts and colonial travel posters. As you wander through the park, don’t miss the historic Eglise du Sacre Coeur, now serving as an exhibition space, where climbing its steps rewards you with breathtaking views of the cityscape. Just a few blocks away, the charming Hotel Le Doge invites guests to experience a lavish Art Deco hotel particulier.
Inspire Casablanca
Current construction around the park offers glimpses of the future Casablanca, highlighting plans for an upgraded park and an impressive Grand Theater. Moving forward, the adjacent Mohammed V Square is lined with grand municipal buildings, including the prefecture, tribunal, post office, and central bank – all dating back to the early 20th century. As you stroll down Boulevard Hassan II toward Place des nations-Unies, you arrive at a junction between the medina (old city) and Boulevard Mohammed V. This previously overlooked thoroughfare has been revitalised to its original splendour with buildings elegantly painted in white. At Marche Central, locals gather to purchase fresh seafood and enjoy it grilled while vendors energetically call out to attract customers. The walk proceeds westward to uncover hidden gems within the old medina. Conversely, heading towards the tranquil Habbous quarter reveals a neighbourhood established by French colonials for Muslims based on modernist ideals.
Exploring Casablanca inevitably evokes thoughts of the iconic Bergman-Bogart film (notably filmed entirely in Hollywood studios). An American expatriate opened a real-life Rick’s Cafe on a boulevard overlooking the port, where echoes of 1940s nightclubs and gambling dens still resonate. With jazz melodies softly playing in the background, it’s a soothing spot that invites reflections on the day´s enchanting exploration.
